A week ago I meandered through my freshly tilled garden with an eight-pound bag of rye seed resting on my hip. I scooped handfuls of the seed and sifted it through my hands watching it drop into the soft, dark earth.
This was my first attempt to plant a cover crop for winter. I had no idea how beneficial a cover crop could be for your soil, particularly rye:
- It grows quickly, with deep roots that keep soil loose and prevent it from compacting over the winter.
- It protects soil from erosion due to the harsh winter elements.
- When you till the rye into the soil in spring, it pumps much-needed nutrients back into the soil.
As I scattered the seed into the garden, I realized God’s Words act much like a cover crop, protecting our hearts.
His Word keeps the soil of our hearts loose, preventing hardening agents like bitterness and pride, or a judgmental and critical spirit. The roots of God’s Word sink deeply into our life, and the Holy Spirit will bring them to mind just when we need to hear them again.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
His Word protects the soil of our hearts from erosion by the harsh elements of life. Loving God and knowing His truths doesn’t protect us from difficult life challenges. His Words cover us with hope and grace and mercy when otherwise we would erode into despair and hopelessness or un-forgiveness.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
God’s Word gives the soil of our hearts much-needed nutrients. Daily time in the Word, even just a few minutes, keeps our hearts healthy often providing just what we need to hear for that day’s troubles. Rather than running on empty when we encounter situations that challenge us, we are filled up with the nutrients His Word supplies.
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Here are 3 tips I’ve discovered for making the Word part of your daily routine.
- Keep your Bible accessible. Leave it open on your kitchen counter making it easy to glance at a few verses throughout the day.
- Write a few favorite verses on cards and post them on your mirror, fridge or even paint them on your walls.
- If you have a smartphone or a tablet, download the YouVersion Bible app. This app also has reading plans for reading through the whole Bible or on a particular topic. With the Bible on your phone, you can read during all those short periods of waiting that happen throughout the day – in the pickup line at school, at the doctor’s office, at the train tracks. It’s amazing how those minutes add up and how much you can read throughout the day.
Are you covered by God’s Word? Do you have a habit of reading it every day? What can you do this week to start making a new habit?
This was such a poignant post. Thank you.
Thanks for reading Jessie!
Loved this Amelia!
Thank you Summer!